Dynasties of Ancient Assam. Part 3

Dynasty of Ancient Assam

1. Varman Dynasty(350- 650) 300 years:

• The founder and the first ruler- Pushyavarman.

• Kashmir king Meghavahana married the daughter of Varman king Bala Varman.

• Chinese traveller Hiuen-Tsang visited Kamrupa during the reign of Kumar Raja Bhaskar Varman. His account is known as Si Yu Ki.

• Bhaskar Varman was the last ruler of Varman dynasty.

• Bhaskar Varman wrote the "Dubi" copper plate inscription and "Nidhanpur" copper plate inscription.

• Bhaskar Varman Contemporary ruler Kanoj Harshavardan + hangavega, Paat,Muga, Ari.

MCQ

1. Who was the founder of the Varman Dynasty of kamrupa- Pushyavarman

2. 2nd king- Samudra Varman.

3. Powerful King- Mahendra Varman

4. Which chinese traveler visited kamrupa during the reign of Bhaskarvarman- Hiuen Tsang(Huanzang)

5. What was the capital of the Varman Dynasty- Pragjyotishpur

6. The Varman Kings traced their lineage back to which mythologocal figure- Naraka

7. Which Varman king was a contemporary and a close ally of king Harshavardhan of Kanauj- Bhaskarvarman

8. The Nidhanpur Copperplate Inscription is an important historical source belonging to which king- Bhaskarvarman.

9. Who was the first Varman king to perform the Ashvamedha(horse sacrifice) to establish independance from Gupta dominace- Mahendravarman (Note: Some sources credit Bhutivarman with the most significant Sacrifies, but Mahendravarman is widely recognized as the first to claim the Imperial title Maharajadhiraja through this ritual)

10. Bhaskarvarman is often referred to by what title in historical texts- Kumar Raja.

11. Which dynasty succeeded the varman dynasty in Karmrupa- Mlechchha (Salastambha Dynasty)

12. In which encient inscription is kamrupa mentioned for the first time as a "Frontier Kingdom" (Pratyanta Rajya)- Allahabad Pillar inscription of Samudragupta

2.Salastambha Dynasty (650-990 AD):

• The founder and the first ruler- Avantivarman or Salastambha.

• Harshadeva or Sri Harsha's daughter Rajyamati was married to Nepal King Jayadeva.

• Hajjarvarman wrote the inscription Tezpur rock inscription and "Hayunthal copperplate inscription". He shifted his capital to Harupeswara or Harapeswara near Tezpur.

• Tutelage deity of Salastambha- Hetuka Sulin

• Tyaga Singha was the last ruler

MCQ

1. The Salastambha Dynasty is also popularly known by which name- Mlechchha Dynasty.

2. Who was the founder of Salastambha Dynasty- Salastambha.

3. The Salastambha kings shifted their capital from Pragjyotishpura to which city- Haruppeswar (Modern-day- Tezpur).

4. Which king of this dynasty is famous for the "Tezpur Rock Inscription", the first dated record in the history of Assam- Harjjarvarman.

5. The Salastambha rulers claimed descent from which mythological figure- Narakasura. (Through often called "Mlechchha" by rivals, they manintained the traditional Naraka lineage in their inscription).

6. Who was the last ruler of Salastambha Dynasty- Tyagasinha.

7. Which king build the magnificent temple of Hatakeswara (Lord Shiva) at Haruppeswara- Vanamalavarmandeva.

8. The "Nowgong Copper Plate" inscription belongs to which king of Salastambha line- Balavarman III.

9. The Hayunthal Copper Plate inscription provides details about the reign of which king- Harjjarvarman.

10. What was the primary reason the dynasty was called the "Mlechchha dynasty in later records- It was likely a derogatory term used by the succeeding Pala Dynasty(Historical Consensus suggests they were indigenous but labeled "Mlechchha" to distinguish them from the "purer" Varman line).

3.Pala Dynasty(990- 1138 AD):

• Brahmapala was the founder.

• Ratnapala was know for his Bargaon and Sualkuchi inscriptions. he established his capital at Sri Durjaya.

• Dharmapala was the most powerful ruler of the Pala dynasty.

• Jayapala was the last ruler of the Pala dynasty.

• Muhammad Bin Bhakhtiyar attacked Kamrupa in 1206 A.D. but Kamrupa kinf Prithu defeated the Turks.

• 1st attack Md. Bin Bakhtiyar in kamrup- 1206

• Ali Mech 1st muslim in Brahmaputra.

MCQ

1. Who was the founder of the Pala Dynasty of Kamrupa- Brahmapala.

2. The Pala Dynasty of kamrupa was established after the end of which preceding dynasty- Mlechchha Dynasty.

3. Which Pala king shifted the capital from Pragjyotishpur to a new city called "Durjaya"- Ratnapala.

4. The Gachtal Copper Plate inscription provides historical information about which Pala King- Indrapala.

5. Who is considered the most powerful and greatest king of the Pala Dynasty of Kamrupa- Dharmapala.

6. The city of "Kamrupanagar" established by Dharmapala, is identified with which modern-day location-North Guwahati (Sualkuchi area).

7. Who was the last official ruler of the Pala Dyansty in kamrupa- Jayapala.

8. The Pala Kings of Kamrupa were primarily followers of which religion- Shaivism (Though they were tolerant of other faiths, their inscriptions often begin with an invocation to Lord Shiva).

9. Which ruler of the Gauda Kindom(Bengal) invaded Kamrupa during the end of the Pala reign (of Bengal)- Ramapla(His general, Mayana, led the invasion).